Habs advance to Eastern Conference final

Pat Hickey, THE GAZETTE05.15.2014

Montreal Canadiens left wing Max Pacioretty (67) leaps from the bench as teammates celebrate a 3-1 win over the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, in Boston on Wednesday, May 14, 2014. The Canadiens advanced to the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Rangers.
/ Associated Press

Aislin, May 15, 2014Aislin
/ The Gazette

Patrice Bergeron (37) of the Boston Bruins brings the puck up the ice against the Montreal Canadiens during Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 14, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.Jared Wickerham
/ Getty Images

Montreal Canadiens defenceman Josh Gorges (26) upends Boston Bruins right wing Reilly Smith (18) as goalie Carey Price makes a save during the first period in Game 7 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Boston, Wednesday, May 14, 2014.
/ AP

P.K. Subban (76) of the Montreal Canadiens controls the puck as Milan Lucic (17) of the Boston Bruins defends during Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 14, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.Jared Wickerham
/ Getty Images

Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban shoots the puck during the first period against the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series in Boston, Wednesday, May 14, 2014.Elise Amendola
/ AP

Matt Bartkowski (43) of the Boston Bruins brings the puck up the ice as Brendan Gallagher (11) of the Montreal Canadiens defends during Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 14, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.Jared Wickerham
/ Getty Images

Dale Weise (22) celebrates a first-period goal with Brandon Prust (8), and Daniel Briere (48) of the Montreal Canadiens against the Boston Bruins during Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 14, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.Jared Wickerham
/ Getty Images

Shawn Thornton (22) of the Boston Bruins checks Michael Bournival (49) of the Montreal Canadiens during Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 14, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.Alex Trautwig
/ Getty Images

Max Pacioretty (67) of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates a second period goal with his teammates against the Boston Bruins during Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 14, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.Alex Trautwig
/ Getty Images

Dale Weise (22) of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates a first-period goal with Brandon Prust (8) against the Boston Bruins during Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 14, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.Alex Trautwig
/ Getty Images

Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) protects the net against Boston Bruins centre Patrice Bergeron (37) and left wing Loui Eriksson (21) during the second period in Game 7 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series in Boston, Wednesday, May 14, 2014.Elise Amendola
/ AP

Boston Bruins coach Claude Julien looks up to see a replay while arguing a call during the second period in Game 7 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens in Boston, Wednesday, May 14, 2014.
/ AP

Max Pacioretty (67) of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates a second-period goal with his teammates against the Boston Bruins during Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 14, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.Jared Wickerham
/ Getty Images

Carey Price (31) of the Montreal Canadiens makes a save against the Boston Bruins during Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 14, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.Alex Trautwig
/ Getty Images

Tuukka Rask (40) of the Boston Bruins lets in a goal by Max Pacioretty (67) of the Montreal Canadiens in the second period during Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 14, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.Jared Wickerham
/ Getty Images

Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) protects the net against Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) during the second period in Game 7 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series in Boston, Wednesday, May 14, 2014.Elise Amendola
/ AP

Dale Weise (22) celebrates a first-period goal with Brandon Prust (8), and Daniel Briere (48) of the Montreal Canadiens against the Boston Bruins during Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 14, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.Alex Trautwig
/ Getty Images

Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban (76) leaps as he congratulates teammate Max Pacioretty (67) on his goal against Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask during the second period in Game 7 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Boston, Wednesday, May 14, 2014. At right is Canadiens center David Desharnais.
/ AP

Carey Price (31) of the Montreal Canadiens makes a save against the Boston Bruins during Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 14, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.Alex Trautwig
/ Getty Images

Dale Weise (22) celebrates a first-period goal with Brandon Prust (8), Daniel Briere (48), Alexei Emelin (74), and Andrei Markov (79) of the Montreal Canadiens against the Boston Bruins during Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 14, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.Jared Wickerham
/ Getty Images

Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask drops to the ice, but can’t make the save on a goal by Montreal Canadiens left wing Max Pacioretty during the second period in Game 7 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Boston, Wednesday, May 14, 2014.
/ AP

Carey Price (31) of the Montreal Canadiens makes a save on Patrice Bergeron (37) of the Boston Bruins during Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 14, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.Jared Wickerham
/ Getty Images

Daniel Paille (20) of the Boston Bruins collides with Carey Price (31) and Andrei Markov (79) of the Montreal Canadiens during Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 14, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.Alex Trautwig
/ Getty Images

As Boston Bruins fans watch, Montreal Canadiens right wing Dale Weise (22) celebrates his goal with teammate Brandon Prust (8) during the first period in Game 7 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Boston, Wednesday, May 14, 2014.
/ AP

Montreal Canadiens fans run between cars on Rene Levesque Blvd. after Habs Stanley Cup series victory over the Bruins in Boston, in Montreal Wednesday May 14, 2014.John Mahoney
/ The Gazette

Matt Fraser (25) of the Boston Bruins and Josh Gorges (26) of the Montreal Canadiens fight for a loose puck during Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 14, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts.Jared Wickerham
/ Getty Images

Montreal Canadiens fans hang out of cars on Rene Levesque Blvd. after Habs Stanley Cup series victory over the Bruins in Boston, in Montreal Wednesday May 14, 2014.John Mahoney
/ The Gazette

Fans celebrate the series win by the Habs outside the Bell Centre following Game 7 on Wednesday May 14, 2014.Pierre Obendrauf
/ The Gazette

Fans celebrate the series win by the Habs outside the Bell Centre following Game 7 on Wednesday May 14, 2014.Pierre Obendrauf
/ The Gazette

Fans celebrate the series win by the Habs outside the Bell Centre following Game 7 on Wednesday May 14, 2014.Pierre Obendrauf
/ The Gazette

Jeremy Sandoval holds a miniature Stanley Cup out of his window as he drives down Rene Levesque Blvd. as Montreal Canadiens fans celebrate in the streets after Habs Stanley Cup series victory over the Bruins in Boston, in Montreal Wednesday May 14, 2014.John Mahoney
/ The Gazette

BOSTON - Carey Price outplayed Tuukka Rask to lead the Canadiens to a 3-1 win over the Boston Bruins in the deciding seventh game of their Eastern Conference semifinal series Wednesday night at the TD Garden. Price made 29 stops, including a game-saver on David Krejci early in the third period with Montreal nursing a 2-1 lead. Price sprawled to clear the rebound of Krejci’s shot and had luck on his side when Jarome Iginla’s backhander hit the post.

Max delivers: For the second consecutive game, Max Pacioretty came up with a big goal. Afer Dale Weise gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead at 2:18 of the first period, the Bruins picked up the pace in the second period. But Pacioretty put the Canadiens ahead 2-0 at 10:22 of the second period. Brendan Gallagher set the play in motion when he battled to keep the puck in the Bruins zone and David Desharnais set up Pacioretty, who beat Rask with a one-timer on a bouncing back.

Canadiens strike first: The first goal has been crucial in the second round of the playoffs and Montreal got off on the right foot when Weise scored his third goal of the playoffs. Brandon Prust chased down a loose puck in the corner and Daniel Brière spotted Weise open in front of the net.

Bruins power: Boston got on the scoreboard with a power-play goal at 17:58 of the second period when Jarome Iginla deflected Torey Krug’s shot from inside the blue line. Price had no chance on the play as Iginla’s deflection hit the post and went in. The goal ended a shutout streak of 103 minutes and 46 seconds for Price. The Bruins went 0-for-2 with the extra man, while the Canadiens went 1-for-5 with Brière adding an insurance goal at 17:07 of the third period. Montreal had the first three power plays of the game and managed only one shot on goal.

Record rivalry: The Canadiens and Bruins were meeting in the playoffs for the 34th time, a record for North American pro sports. It was the ninth time the teams have gone to seven games and Montreal now holds a 6-3 edge in those Game 7s. The Canadiens have an overall record of 25-9 in series against the Bruins and have a 15-9 overall record when they are involved in seven-game series.

Sellout update: The game at the TD Garden drew a capacity crowd of 17,565, which was 2,435 fewer than the 20,000 who watched the game on the big screen at the Bell Centre.

What’s next: The Canadiens now move on to the Eastern Conference final against the New York Rangers. That best-of-seven series will start Saturday at the Bell Centre.

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